U.S. patent number 11,342,009 [Application Number 16/612,285] was granted by the patent office on 2022-05-24 for cell module equalization and precharge device and method.
This patent grant is currently assigned to LG ENERGY SOLUTION, LTD.. The grantee listed for this patent is LG CHEM, LTD.. Invention is credited to Yean Sik Choi, Sang Hoon Lee, Chang Hyun Sung.
United States Patent |
11,342,009 |
Sung , et al. |
May 24, 2022 |
Cell module equalization and precharge device and method
Abstract
A device and a method for equalizing and precharging a cell
module, which may form a circuit for performing a corresponding
operation by a converter unit by selectively connecting the
converter unit and one or more cell modules by controlling a
conduction state of a switching unit based on an operation which
the converter intends to perform.
Inventors: |
Sung; Chang Hyun (Daejeon,
KR), Lee; Sang Hoon (Daejeon, KR), Choi;
Yean Sik (Daejeon, KR) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
LG CHEM, LTD. |
Seoul |
N/A |
KR |
|
|
Assignee: |
LG ENERGY SOLUTION, LTD.
(Seoul, KR)
|
Family
ID: |
1000006328349 |
Appl.
No.: |
16/612,285 |
Filed: |
October 15, 2018 |
PCT
Filed: |
October 15, 2018 |
PCT No.: |
PCT/KR2018/012106 |
371(c)(1),(2),(4) Date: |
November 08, 2019 |
PCT
Pub. No.: |
WO2019/088500 |
PCT
Pub. Date: |
May 09, 2019 |
Prior Publication Data
|
|
|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20210082480 A1 |
Mar 18, 2021 |
|
Foreign Application Priority Data
|
|
|
|
|
Nov 6, 2017 [KR] |
|
|
10-2017-0146828 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H02J
7/0016 (20130101); G11C 7/12 (20130101); H02M
3/158 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H02J
7/00 (20060101); G11C 7/12 (20060101); H02M
3/158 (20060101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2 993 074 |
|
Mar 2016 |
|
EP |
|
2006-507790 |
|
Mar 2006 |
|
JP |
|
2014-90595 |
|
May 2014 |
|
JP |
|
5704063 |
|
Apr 2015 |
|
JP |
|
2017-34887 |
|
Feb 2017 |
|
JP |
|
10-2010-0085791 |
|
Jul 2010 |
|
KR |
|
10-2014-0123164 |
|
Oct 2014 |
|
KR |
|
10-2015-0085383 |
|
Jul 2015 |
|
KR |
|
10-2016-0024254 |
|
Mar 2016 |
|
KR |
|
10-2016-0099357 |
|
Aug 2016 |
|
KR |
|
WO 2014/156041 |
|
Oct 2014 |
|
WO |
|
Other References
Extended European Search Report for European Application No.
18873941.1, dated Feb. 10, 2020. cited by applicant .
Moore et al., "A Review of Cell Equalization Methods for Lithium
Ion and Lithium Polymer Battery Systems," Society of Automotive
Engineers, Inc., 2001, XP-002954937, pp. 1-5. cited by applicant
.
International Search Report for PCT/KR2018/012106 (PCT/ISA/210)
dated Jan. 25, 2019. cited by applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Kessie; Daniel
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Birch, Stewart, Kolasch &
Birch, LLP
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. A cell module equalizing and precharging device comprising: a
converter unit located between a battery including one or more cell
modules and a load, the converter unit performing a precharging
operation and an equalizing operation; a switching unit connecting
each of the one or more cell modules and the converter unit; and a
control unit selectively forming a precharge circuit for performing
the precharging operation or an equalizing circuit for performing
the equalizing operation by controlling a conduction state of the
switching unit based on an operation which the converter unit
intends to perform, wherein the precharging operation includes
charging a DC link capacitor with the battery to equalize a voltage
of the DC link capacitor to a voltage of the battery, wherein the
DC link capacitor is located between the load and the battery,
wherein the converter unit includes: an input terminal connected
with the battery; a first output terminal connected with the load;
and a second output terminal connected with the switching unit, and
wherein the control unit controls the switching unit to connect the
one or more cell modules and the second output terminal to form the
equalizing circuit.
2. The cell module equalizing and precharging device of claim 1,
wherein the control unit forms the precharge circuit including the
battery, the input terminal and the first output terminal by
controlling the switching unit to cut off a connection between the
second output terminal and the switching unit.
3. The cell module equalizing and precharging device of claim 1,
wherein the control unit acquires cell module information from the
one or more cell modules and diagnoses unbalance abnormality of the
one or more cell modules based on the cell module information.
4. The cell module equalizing and precharging device of claim 3,
wherein the control unit forms the equalizing circuit including the
one or more cell modules of which unbalance abnormality is
diagnosed, the input terminal, and the second output terminal by
controlling the switching unit to connect the one or more cell
modules of which unbalance abnormality is diagnosed and the second
output terminal.
5. The cell module equalizing and precharging device of claim 4,
wherein when recovery of energy from the one or more cell modules
of which unbalance abnormality is diagnosed is required, the
control unit controls an operation of the converter unit so as to
transfer the energy of the one or more cell modules of which
unbalance abnormality is diagnosed from the second output terminal
to the input terminal.
6. The cell module equalizing and precharging device of claim 4,
wherein when transfer of energy to the one or more cell modules of
which unbalance abnormality is diagnosed is required, the control
unit controls an operation of the converter unit so as to transfer
the energy output from the battery from the input terminal to the
second output terminal.
7. A cell module equalizing and precharging method comprising:
performing, by a converter unit located between a battery including
one or more cell modules and a load, a precharging operation and an
equalizing operation; connecting, by a switching unit, each of the
one or more cell modules and the converter unit; and controlling a
conduction state of the switching unit in order to selectively form
a precharge circuit for performing the precharging operation or an
equalizing circuit for performing the equalizing operation based on
an operation which the converter unit intends to perform, wherein
the precharging operation includes charging a DC link capacitor
with the battery to equalize a voltage of the DC link capacitor to
a voltage of the battery, wherein the DC link capacitor is located
between the load and the battery, wherein the converter unit
includes: an input terminal connected with the battery; a first
output terminal connected with the load; and a second output
terminal connected with the switching unit, and wherein the control
unit controls the switching unit to connect the one or more cell
modules and the second output terminal to form the equalizing
circuit.
8. The cell module equalizing and precharging method of claim 7,
wherein the controlling includes forming the precharge circuit
including the battery, the input terminal and the first output
terminal by controlling the switching unit to cut off a connection
between the second output terminal and the switching unit by
controlling the switching unit.
9. The cell module equalizing and precharging method of claim 7,
wherein the controlling includes acquiring cell module information
from the one or more cell modules and diagnosing unbalance
abnormality of the one or more cell modules based on the cell
module information.
10. The cell module equalizing and precharging method of claim 9,
wherein the controlling further includes, forming the equalizing
circuit including the one or more cell modules of which unbalance
abnormality is diagnosed, the input terminal, and the second output
terminal by controlling the switching unit to connect the one or
more cell modules of which unbalance abnormality is diagnosed and
the second output terminal.
11. The cell module equalizing and precharging method of claim 10,
wherein when recovery of energy from the one or more cell modules
of which unbalance abnormality is diagnosed is required, the method
further includes controlling an operation of the converter unit so
as to transfer the energy of the one or more cell modules of which
unbalance abnormality is diagnosed from the second output terminal
to the input terminal.
12. The cell module equalizing and precharging method of claim 10,
wherein when transfer of the energy to the one or more cell modules
of which unbalance abnormality is diagnosed is required, the method
further includes controlling an operation of the converter unit so
as to transfer the energy output from the battery from the input
terminal to the second output terminal.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean
Patent Application No. 10-2017-0146828 filed in the Korean
Intellectual Property Office on Nov. 6, 2017, the entire contents
of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention relates to a device and a method for
equalizing and precharging a cell module, and more particularly, to
a device and a method for equalizing and precharging a cell module,
which may form a circuit for performing a corresponding operation
by a converter unit by selectively connecting the converter unit
and one or more cell modules by controlling a conduction state of a
switching unit based on an operation which the converter intends to
perform.
BACKGROUND ART
In general, in a secondary battery, in environments requiring a
high capacity, such as an electric vehicle, an energy storage
system, and an interruptible power supply, one battery module can
be used by connecting a plurality of unit secondary battery cells
and in some cases, a plurality of battery modules may be connected
and used.
When a plurality of battery modules is together used, voltages of
the plurality of battery modules may be unbalanced due to various
factors including production deviation occurring while producing
the battery module, a temperature deviation of the battery module,
and the like.
Meanwhile, when battery modules in which voltage is unbalanced are
combined and used, available capacities and powers of the plurality
of battery modules are reduced and aging of the battery module is
accelerated, thereby shortening a lifespan of the battery module.
In order to solve such a problem, an inter-module unbalance is
diagnosed based on various state information such as voltage,
current, and temperatures of respective individual modules when the
plurality of battery modules is connected and used, and as a
result, a deviation between the battery modules needs to be removed
through a balancing operation.
In addition, in a battery management system in the related art,
various systems such as a system for measuring, monitoring, and
diagnosing a state of a battery as well as balancing the battery
are constructed in a complex manner, thereby increasing cost for
configuring the system or a volume of the system.
Therefore, in order to solve a problem of the battery management
system in the related art, the present inventor has developed a
device and a method for equalizing and precharging a cell module,
which allow a converter unit to perform various functions by
controlling one switching unit by selectively connecting the
converter unit and one or more cell modules by controlling a
conduction state of the switching unit based on an operation which
the converter unit intends to perform.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Technical Problem
The present invention is contrived to solve the aforementioned
problem and the present invention provides a device and a method
for equalizing and precharging a cell module, which may form a
circuit for performing a corresponding operation by a converter
unit by selectively connecting the converter unit and one or more
cell modules by controlling a conduction state of a switching unit
based on an operation which the converter intends to perform.
Technical Solution
A cell module equalizing and precharging device according to an
embodiment of the present invention may include: a converter unit
located between a battery including one or more cell modules and a
load, the converter unit performing a precharging operation and an
equalizing operation; a switching unit connecting each of the one
or more cell modules and the converter unit; and a control unit
selectively forming a precharge circuit for performing the
precharging operation or an equalizing circuit for performing the
equalizing operation by controlling a conduction state of the
switching unit based on an operation which the converter unit
intends to perform.
In an embodiment, the converter unit may include an input terminal
connected with the battery, a first output terminal connected with
the load, and a second output terminal connected with the switching
unit.
In an embodiment, when the converter unit intends to perform the
precharging operation, the control unit may form the precharge
circuit including the battery, the input terminal and the first
output terminal by controlling the switching unit to cut off a
connection between the second output terminal and the switching
unit.
In an embodiment, the control unit may acquire cell module
information from the one or more cell modules and diagnose
unbalance abnormality of the one or more cell modules based on the
cell module information.
In an embodiment, when the converter unit intends to perform the
equalizing operation, the control unit may form the equalizing
circuit including the one or more cell modules of which unbalance
abnormality is diagnosed, the input terminal, and the second output
terminal by controlling the switching unit to connect the one or
more cell modules of which unbalance abnormality is diagnosed and
the second output terminal.
In an embodiment, when recovery of energy from the one or more cell
modules of which unbalance abnormality is diagnosed is required,
the control unit may control an operation of the converter unit so
as to transfer the energy of the one or more cell modules of which
unbalance abnormality is diagnosed from the second output terminal
to the input terminal.
In an embodiment, when transfer of the energy to the one or more
cell modules of which unbalance abnormality is diagnosed is
required, the control unit may control an operation of the
converter unit so as to transfer the energy output from the battery
from the input terminal to the second output terminal.
A cell module equalizing and precharging method according to an
embodiment of the present invention may include: performing, by a
converter unit located between a battery including one or more cell
modules and a load, a precharging operation and an equalizing
operation; connecting, by a switching unit, each of the one or more
cell modules and the converter unit; and controlling a conduction
state of the switching unit in order to selectively form a
precharge circuit for performing the precharging operation or an
equalizing circuit for performing the equalizing operation based on
an operation which the converter unit intends to perform.
In an embodiment, the converter unit may include an input terminal
connected with the battery, a first output terminal connected with
the load, and a second output terminal connected with the switching
unit.
In an embodiment, the controlling may include, when the converter
unit intends to perform the precharging operation, forming the
precharge circuit including the battery, the input terminal and the
first output terminal by controlling the switching unit to cut off
a connection between the second output terminal and the switching
unit.
In an embodiment, the controlling may include acquiring cell module
information from the one or more cell modules and diagnosing
unbalance abnormality of the one or more cell modules based on the
cell module information.
In an embodiment, the controlling may further include, when the
converter unit intends to perform the equalizing operation, forming
the equalizing circuit including the one or more cell modules of
which unbalance abnormality is diagnosed, the input terminal, and
the second output terminal by controlling the switching unit to
connect the one or more cell modules of which unbalance abnormality
is diagnosed and the second output terminal.
In an embodiment, when recovery of energy from the one or more cell
modules of which unbalance abnormality is diagnosed is required,
the method further includes controlling an operation of the
converter unit so as to transfer the energy of the one or more cell
modules of which unbalance abnormality is diagnosed from the second
output terminal to the input terminal.
In an embodiment, when transfer of the energy to the one or more
cell modules of which unbalance abnormality is diagnosed is
required, the method further includes controlling an operation of
the converter unit so as to transfer the energy output from the
battery from the input terminal to the second output terminal.
Advantageous Effects
According to the present invention, a precharge circuit for a
precharging operation or an equalization circuit for an
equalization operation may be selectively formed by selectively
connecting a converter unit and one or more cell modules by
controlling a conduction state of a switching unit based on an
operation which the converter intends to perform and various
operations are performed by using one converter unit, thereby
reducing a volume and a price of a system.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating components of a cell
module equalizing and precharging device 100 according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating a precharge circuit
in the cell module equalizing and precharging device 100 according
to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIGS. 3 and 4 are diagrams schematically illustrating an equalizing
circuit in the cell module equalizing and precharging device 100
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart for describing a series of processes of
performing an equalizing operation of a cell module by using the
cell module equalizing and precharging device 100 according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a flowchart for describing a series of processes of
performing a precharging operation of the cell module by using the
cell module equalizing and precharging device 100 according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
BEST MODE
Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment is presented in order to assist
understanding of the present invention. However, the following
embodiment is just provided to more easily understand the present
invention and contents of the present invention are not limited by
the embodiment.
FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a cell module
equalizing and precharging device 100 according to an embodiment of
the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 1, the cell module equalizing and precharging
device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention may
be configured to include a converter unit 110, a switching unit
120, and a control unit 130.
Here, the device 100 for equalizing and precharging a cell module
illustrated in FIG. 1 follows an embodiment and it should be noted
that components thereof are not limited to the embodiment
illustrated in FIG. 1 and as necessary, the components may be
replaced, added, modified, or deleted.
First, the converter unit 110 may be located between a battery 10
including one or more of cell modules 10-1 to 10-n and a load 20
and may perform a precharging operation or an equalizing operation.
For example, when one or more cell modules 10-1 to 10-n are
connected in series, the converter unit 110 may be located between
the cell module 10-n located at a forefront end and the load 20.
Further, the converter unit 110 may be connected with an anode
switch 40a in parallel.
Here, the precharging operation may mean an operation of equalizing
voltage of a DC link capacitor 30 to voltage of the battery 10 by
charging the DC link capacitor 30 with the voltage of the battery
10 by charging a DC link capacitor 30 before operating main
switches 40a and 40b in order to prevent fusion of the main
switches 40a and 40b.
Here, the equalizing operation may mean an operation performed to
equalize energy possessed by one or more cell modules 10-1 to 10-n.
For example, the equalizing operation may be an operation of
supplying the energy to a cell module which is insufficient in
energy compared to other cell modules among one or more cell
modules 10-1 to 10-n and an operation of recovering the energy from
a cell module which is excessive in energy compared to other cell
modules.
In an embodiment, the converter unit 110 may receive power from the
battery 10 and transfer the received power to the DC link capacitor
30 or the cell modules 10-1 to 10-n having abnormality. To this
end, the converter unit 110 may include an input terminal 110a
connected to the battery 10 and receiving the power from the
battery 10, a first output terminal 110b connected to the load 20
side and supplying the energy to the DC link capacitor 30, and a
second output terminal 110c connected with a switching unit to be
described below and supplying the power to the cell modules 10-1 to
10-n. As an example, the converter unit 110 may be a multiple
output insulated bidirectional converter which may output one input
value into a plurality of output values.
The multi output insulated bidirectional converter may be
constituted by one input terminal and two output terminals and
since the input terminal and the output terminal are insulated from
each other to bidirectionally transfer the energy. Therefore, the
energy supplied from the battery 10 may be provided to the cell
modules 10-1 to 10-n which has relatively insufficient energy
compared to other cell modules 10-1 to 10-n and the energy may be
recovered from the cell modules 10-1 to 10-n which is excessive in
energy.
The switching unit 120 may connect each of one or more cell modules
10-1 to 10-n and the converter unit 110. For example, as
illustrated in FIG. 1, one side of the switching unit 120 may be
connected with an anode terminal and a cathode terminal of each of
one or more cell modules 10-1 to 10-n and the other side is
connected with a second output terminal 110c of the converter unit
110 to connect each of one or more cell modules 10-1 to 10-n and
the converter unit 110.
In an embodiment, the switching unit 120 may be a switch matrix and
selectively connects the anode terminal and the cathode terminal of
the cell modules 10-1 to 10-n selected through the control unit 130
to be described below to connect one or more cell modules 10-1 to
10-n and the converter unit 110.
In an embodiment, when the operation of the cell module equalizing
and precharging device 100 according to an embodiment of the
present invention starts and when an unbalance abnormality of one
or more cell modules 10-1 to 10-n is not diagnosed, the switching
unit 120 maintains an off state to cut off connection between one
or more cell modules 10-1 to 10-n and the connector unit 110.
The control unit 130 may selectively form a precharge circuit for
performing the precharging operation or an equalizing circuit for
performing the equalizing operation by controlling the conduction
state of the switching unit 120 based on the operation which the
converter unit 110 intends to perform. Hereinafter, with reference
to FIGS. 2 to 4, a configuration in which the control unit 130
forms the precharge circuit and the equalizing circuit will be
described in detail.
FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating a precharge circuit
in the cell module equalizing and precharging device 100 according
to an embodiment of the present invention and FIGS. 3 and 4 are
diagrams schematically illustrating an equalizing circuit in the
cell module equalizing and precharging device 100 according to an
embodiment of the present invention.
First, referring to FIG. 2, the control unit 130 may form the
precharge circuit by controlling the switching unit 120 when the
converter unit 110 intends to perform the precharging operation.
For example, when the converter unit 110 intends to perform the
precharging operation, the control unit 130 changes the conduction
state of the cathode switch 40b of the main switches 40a and 40b to
an on state and controls the conduction state of the switching unit
120 to cut off the connection between the second output terminal
110c and the switching unit 120. Therefore, the control unit 130
may form the precharge circuit which is a closed circuit including
the battery 10, the input terminal 110a, the first output terminal
110b, the DC link capacitor 30, and the cathode switch 40b. Here,
the power applied from the battery 10 may be applied to the DC link
capacitor 30 through the first output terminal 110b of the
converter unit 110 and the DC link capacitor 30 may be charged by
using the applied power of the battery 10. Thereafter, when the
voltage charged in the DC link capacitor 30 becomes equal to the
voltage of the battery 10, the control unit 130 changes the
conduction state of the cathode switch 40b to an off state to short
the precharge circuit, thereby stopping the precharging operation
of the converter unit 110.
Next, referring to FIG. 3, the control unit 130 may form the
equalizing circuit by controlling the switching unit 120 when the
converter unit 110 intends to perform the equalizing operation. For
example, the control unit 130 may acquire cell module information
from one or more cell modules 10-1 to 10-n and diagnose the
unbalance abnormality of one or more cell modules 10-1 to 10-n
based on the acquired cell module information.
Here, the cell module information may mean information indicating
states of one or more cell modules 10-1 to 10-n. For example, the
cell module information may include at least any one of current,
voltage, a temperature, a remaining capacity (SOC), and a remaining
lifespan (SOH).
The control unit 130 may diagnose the unbalance abnormality of one
or more cell modules 10-1 to 10-n based on the cell module
information. Here, when the unbalance abnormality is diagnosed in
an n-th cell module 10-n as in FIG. 3, the control unit 130 may
connect the anode terminal and the cathode terminal of the n-th
cell module 10-n and the second output terminal 110c of the
converter unit 110 by controlling the switching unit 120.
Therefore, the control unit 130 may form the equalizing circuit
which is the closed circuit including the n-th cell module 10-n,
the switching unit 120, the second output terminal 110c of the
converter unit 110, and the input terminal 110a of the converter
unit 110.
Next, referring to FIG. 4, the control unit 130 may form the
equalizing circuit by a method which is the same as the method. For
example, when the unbalance abnormality occurs in a second cell
module 10-2, the control unit 130 may connect the anode terminal
and the cathode terminal of the second cell module 10-2 and the
second output terminal 110c of the converter unit 110 by
controlling the switching unit 120. Therefore, the control unit 130
may form the equalizing circuit which is the closed circuit
including the second cell module 10-2, the switching unit 120, the
second output terminal 110c of the converter unit 110, and the
input terminal 110a of the converter unit 110.
In an embodiment, when the energy needs to be transferred to the
cell modules 10-1 to 10-n of which balance abnormality is
diagnosed, the control unit 130 may control the operation of the
converter unit 110 so that the energy output from the battery 10 is
transferred from the input terminal 110a to the second output
terminal 110c. For example, referring to FIG. 3, when the energy of
the n-th cell module 10-n is insufficient compared to the energy of
other cell modules 10-1 to 10-3, the control unit 130 transfers the
energy of the battery 10 input into the input terminal 110a to the
second output terminal 110c by controlling the operation of the
converter unit 110 and provides the energy of the battery 10
transferred to the second output terminal 110c to the n-th cell
module 10-n to charge the n-th cell module 10-n with the
insufficient energy, thereby solving the unbalance abnormality.
In an embodiment, when recovery of the energy is required from one
or more cell modules 10-1 to 10-n of which balance abnormality is
diagnosed, the control unit 130 may control the operation of the
converter unit 110 so that the energy of one or more cell modules
10-1 to 10-n of which unbalance abnormality is diagnosed is
transferred from the second output terminal 110c to the input
terminal 110a. For example, referring to FIG. 4, when the energy of
the second cell module 10-2 is more than the energy of other cell
modules 10-1, and 10-3 to 10-n, the control unit 130 transfers the
energy of the second cell module 10-2 to the second output terminal
110c by controlling the operation of the converter unit 110 and
transfers the transferred energy of the second cell module 10-2 to
the battery 10 through the input terminal 110a to consume excessive
energy of the second cell module 10-2, thereby solving the
unbalance abnormality. Hereinafter, referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, a
cell module equalizing and precharging method according to an
embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 5 is a flowchart for describing a series of processes of
performing an equalizing operation of a cell module by using the
cell module equalizing and precharging device 100 according to an
embodiment of the present invention and FIG. 6 is a flowchart for
describing a series of processes of performing a precharging
operation of the cell module by using the cell module equalizing
and precharging device 100 according to an embodiment of the
present invention.
First, referring to FIG. 5, the conduction state of the switching
unit is maintained to the off state and the cell module information
is acquired from one or more cell modules (S110). An unbalance is
diagnosed with respect to one or more cell modules based on the
cell module information acquired in step S110 (S120). In this case,
when there is no unbalance abnormality, the unbalance abnormality
of one or more cell modules is continuously monitored by returning
to step S110. However, when the unbalance abnormality occurs, the
cell module of which unbalance abnormality is diagnosed and the
second output terminal are connected by controlling the switching
unit and an equalizing circuit including the cell module of which
unbalance abnormality is diagnosed, the switching unit, the second
output terminal, the input terminal, and the battery is formed
through the connection. The energy is transferred to or recovered
from the cell module of which unbalance abnormality is diagnosed by
using the equalizing circuit formed in steps S130 and S140
(S150).
Next, referring to FIG. 6, when the precharging operation is
intended to be performed, the conduction state of the cathode
switch is changed to the on state (S210). Thereafter, the
connection between the switching unit and the second output
terminal is cut off by controlling the switching unit and a
precharge circuit is generated, which includes the battery, the
input terminal of the converter unit, the first output terminal,
the DC link capacitor, and the cathode switch (S220 and S230). The
energy of the battery is transferred to the DC link capacitor by
performing the precharging operation through the precharge circuit
formed in steps S220 and S230 to charge the DC link capacitor
(S240).
The aforementioned cell module equalizing and precharging method is
described with reference to the flowcharts presented in the
drawings. The method has been shown and described by a series of
blocks for easy description, but it is to be understood that the
present invention is not limited to the order of the blocks, and
that some blocks may be generated in different orders from and
concurrently with other blocks as shown and described in the
present specification, and various other branches, flow paths, and
orders of blocks may be implemented to achieve the same or similar
result. In addition, all illustrated blocks may not be required for
the implementation of the method described in the present
specification.
The present invention has been described with reference to the
preferred embodiments, but those skilled in the art will understand
that the present invention can be variously modified and changed
without departing from the spirit and the scope of the present
invention which are defined in the appended claims.
* * * * *